The Premier League’s supposed crisis club of the summer and, with five key players sold and the manager also gone, it is easy to understand this perception. It is not entirely accurate, however. The situation that Ronald Koeman inherited was of some massive offers for players who had made clear their desire to leave for the three most successful clubs in British football history.

Southampton's owner, Katharina Libeherr, had already invested huge sums of her own money in the club and, unless she was prepared to continue that process, an exodus was inevitable at some stage.

The key, according to Koeman, is that the money is available to him and that it is invested in quality replacements. Southampton are highly unlikely to spend the entire £92.5 million that has come in – and they must do everything to now keep Morgan Schneiderlin – but they are hardly holding up the white flag either.

Koeman was hardly a cheap or inexperienced option to replace Mauricio Pochettino as manager while Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic, Ryan Bertrand, Fraser Forster and Saphir Taider are hardly from the bargain basement.

Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez is also the subject of an offer. The question, though, is whether the players can be expected to blend quickly together after so much change. Should Southampton start badly – and they have a difficult opening fixture next Sunday at Anfield – there is the danger of the momentum all going in the wrong direction.

That can be very difficult reverse but Koeman has made an extremely positive impression on the squad and, after such a stellar playing record and good managerial career, will certainly bring a considerable aura to the dugout.